SINGAPORE – At the last Olympics in 2016, a record 10 sailors from Singapore across seven classes qualified for Rio de Janeiro.

Of the 68 sailing nations in Rio, only 11 had more representatives than Singapore, who were second only to Japan’s 11 among Asian countries.

It continued a sterling streak that has seen Singapore represented in at least one class at every edition of the Games since 1984. However, a first-ever medal remains elusive.

Colin Cheng’s 15th-place out of 49 competitiors in the Laser class at the 2012 London Games remains the Republic’s best-ever result. Cheng finished 20th out of 46 in Rio, while most of his compatriots ended near the back of their respective classes.

Getting to the podium is the next hurdle for Singapore and the Singapore Sailing Fderation, which has the system in place to produce winners, but needs the commitment to see their sailors through, according to Yann Rocherieux, chairman of the Athletes’ Commission at World Sailing (WS).

“I think having seven teams at the last Olympics is already quite a good sign that the system (here) is working and that you have good sailors,” he told TODAY during WS’s mid-year meetings at the Equinox Restaurant last week.

“Maybe your Olympic medallist for 2024 is still in your youth teams, if there is no disruption (to their training before and) after 2020 (in Tokyo). The 49er FX (women’s skiff class), which was competed for the first time in Rio – there’s a lot of opportunities there for every country and if you can build on that, maybe you can even medal in 2020, who knows?”

The need for sailors to commit for more than one Olympic cycle, which takes four years, to increase their medal chances, is well-known.

With eight of the 10 from Rio – apart from second-timers Cheng and Elizabeth Yin in Laser Radial – being debutants, Rocherieux’s observation means that Singapore’s medal hopes will be boosted if the majority stay on for a second, or even third, campaign.

Singapore Sailing Federation (SSF) president Dr Ben Tan said in a Channel NewsAsia interview last year: “Your first Olympics, you’re at the back of the fleet. Your second, you’ll be in the mix... Your third, you finish in the top 10. Once you’re at that standard, and the stars align, you will medal.”

LONG-TERM COMMITMENT

That is easier said than done, however. Already, from the Rio batch, only 49er FX sailor Griselda Khng has committed to a consecutive campaign, and she has had to team up with a new partner.

Another 49er FX pair, Kimberly Lim and Cecilia Low, who failed in their Rio bid, are also trying for the Tokyo Games. TODAY understands that Ryan Lo (Laser Standard) and female pair Elisa Yukie Yokoyama and Cheryl Teo (women’s 470) are likely to try for qualification as well.

Rochiereux, who competed for France at the 2008 Beijing Games and finished 10th in the mixed 49er, said the SSF and government have to do their best to create an environment for sailors to stay on.

“I don’t have exact numbers but I don’t think many sailors have got medals just after four years of training,” the 34-year-old said.

“The commitment is so big that people usually are done after four years as they want to be back in a much more normal life.

“If I take France, for example, we have some arrangements with companies from high school through to university, for our sailors to (have) a normal job part time as they go on with their (competitive) career… (even) when they stop, they have something (to fall back on).

“So even if it takes like eight years to reach your goal (in sailing), you can go on…. (and) be confident of doing another campaign… (as) there is something (job stability) after (you are done).”

But another critical factor in churning out world-beaters is also to have internal competition – that is to say, more than one boat in each class trying to make the Olympics.

Singapore had more than one boat aiming for Rio 2016 qualification in four out of seven classes – there were two for the Laser Standard and both male and female windsurfing, with three for the women’s 470.

MORE TEAMS, HIGHER COMPETITION

“If you have (at least) two teams, it’s really a big help, because just sailing by yourself is really hard,” Rocherieux said.

“You are able to work as much as possible together… the longer you stay together – maybe not for everything but for most of the trainings – and share materials (information, techniques etc)… the higher you can (push each other to) go.”

He noted that having stronger competition at home, with two or even three boats per class, can also reduce the need for frequent overseas training stints and competitions.

Major regattas, with world-class opposition, are usually held in Europe, which can be far and expensive for sailors to get to.

He mooted a possible alternative – setting up a base in Europe, so that sailors can reduce transport costs.

“I know some sailors from countries like Brazil, they leave trailers (at their European base) so when they fly back, they don’t take everything (all their gear).”

Rocherieux added that WS is looking at building the commercial value of the regattas on its world circuit, which could help sailors in securing more funding.

“If you (sailors) have examples of (big) numbers of viewers that see sailing as a big sport, I imagine it will be a little easier to go to (and convince) private sponsors or even the government,” he said.

He cited strong coaching and top-level sports science support as other key high performance factors, but noted that at the end of the day, it is critical that the sailors believe in themselves right from the beginning.

“It’s important not to lie to yourself – it’s really a big commitment and it’s going to be hard,” he concluded.

“But when you know it’s going to be hard, you can be ready and do a perfect setup.

“At the end, (you have to be prepared to) give your best; the worst thing is to have regrets.

“If you have a medal (to show for it), great – but (even) if you don’t, you know you’ve done your best, and the journey is still going to be great.”